Plans to increase Itchen Bridge toll could be approved tonight
PLANS to charge motorists an extra 20p per crossing of the Itchen Bridge will go before councillors for the first sign-off tonight (Feb 19).
Forming part of the city council’s budget, Labour’s frontbench will look to give the proposals – which includes a 2.99% council tax hike, their formal thumbs up at Cabinet, before its sent to Full Council tomorrow (Feb 20).
There it will be debated by all city council parties, before a final vote is counted.
As reported, the tax rise equates to £41.30 a year extra for Band D homes.
The new crossing toll will also bring in some extra cash for the council, with the rise expected to raise £510,000 a year.
However, Council leader Christopher Hammond has confirmed this will go towards maintaining and upgrading the bridge, with the introduction of contact-less payments also expected “soon”.
Currently it costs cars, and small vans, 50p to cross the bridge (60p at peak time), but the new charge will see this rise to 70p (80p) from April next year.
This will be the first rise of the toll in two decades.
Also as part of the budget, significant cuts are tabled, including around £4 million from the adult social care budget.
Civic chiefs say the council needs to save more than £15 million by 2021.
However, this comes despite the authority already making across-the-board savings of £136.4 million over the last seven years.
The councillors’ expenses budget is also set to be reduced, which will save the council £35,000 per year.
The budget also includes the decision from the council to close the Glen Lee care home in Bitterne, which it hopes will save around £1 million a year.